Ex-CDU Treasurer Takes Aim at Presidential Hopeful

Former Christian Democratic party (CDU) treasurer Brigitte Baumeister said Wednesday her newly-published book about the CDU campaign finance scandal wasn't an act of revenge against former CDU chief and parliamentary group leader Wolfgang Schäuble. But she did say the book's publication was timed to precede Germany's presidential election, for which Schäuble is a possible candidate. CDU deputy parliamentary group leader Wolfgang Bosbach stressed that the book would not influence the Union bloc in its choice of a presidential candidate. Baumeister and Schäuble have for years been at odds over the details of a €51,100 ($63,600) donation from weapon lobbyist Karlheinz Schreiber in 1994. The CDU finance scandal, which erupted in 1999 and involved former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, led to Schäuble resigning from his positions and Baumeister discontinuing her career as a parliamentarian. Current President Johannes Rau ends his term this year. His successor will be elected in late May and take office in June.